Help CentreWhat can I expect from my supervision team?
The 'Doctoral Supervisor Good Practice Framework' sets out the University's expectations of all supervisors.
It is a good practice to meet with your supervision team to discuss and agree how you will work together effectively, each other's responsibilities, working methods and how this will be achieved.
Research students will have a supervision team of 2 or 3 supervisors with a Principal Supervisor who will be your main point of contact.
Your supervision team will have the subject expertise and knowledge to support you, offer direction and regular formal/informal feedback throughout your individual programme.
Your principal supervisor has a regulatory responsibility for:
• Helping you to complete your section of your Project Approval (PA) application
• Nominating your supervision team members
• Nominating a panel Chair and subject expert for your PA panel meeting
• Arranging your PA panel meeting
• Help you in your Annual Progression (AP) submission
• Nominate the AP Panel and arrange the panel meeting
• Nominate your examination team at least six months before your thesis submission date
Your Principal Supervisor can also attend your Viva Voce (oral examination) as an observer at your request. They must be present when you receive feedback from the examiners.
Your supervision team, 'They give expert advice on the study topic and methodology. They support the intellectual and personal development of the student with advice and direction'.
How often can I expect to meet with my Principal Supervisor and Supervision Team?
You and your supervisor are responsible for keeping up regular contact.
Full time students should meet with the Principal Supervisor once a month and part-time students every other month. Your full supervision team should meet with you at least every six months to review progress and produce a report with recommendations.
You and your supervisor will keep a record of your supervision meetings on e:Vision
Will my progress be monitored?
Yes, your supervision teams will monitor your progress against programme aims, project approval and annual progression requirements. Progress and review may include formal reviews of your progress at different stages. Your supervision team will assess your progress throughout your PHD as part of the supervision process.
What can my supervisor/s expect from me?
• You will attend supervision sessions and meetings with your supervision team, complete and submit a monthly supervision record to your Principal Supervisor.
• You will be responsible for maintaining contact, planning and reporting your research; completing milestones and any required training and make satisfactory progress during your PHD.
• Engage with your programme and supervision team
• Make satisfactory and timely progress
• Inform the Graduate School if you would like your Principal Supervisor to attend your viva voce.
What can I do if something goes wrong?
Your relationship with your supervisors is a big part of your PGR journey. It should be a partnership based on honesty and mutual respect.
Try to agree frequency of contact and timescales for receiving informal and formal feedback with your supervisor/s.
There may be times when PGR students experience challenges during their time at Northumbria. This may include problems with a member of your supervision team. If you are worried about your relationship with your supervisor or provision of support, there is help available to you.
Firstly, be organised - make a written note of the issues you have including the details and times of any meetings or discussions. You could send a list of the issues to your supervisors in advance of a meeting so that everyone is on the same page and able to prepare for the meeting.
It is also good practice to document your discussions so that not only do you have a record, but you and your supervisors can reflect on what was agreed or talked about. Don't be afraid to speak up if you are unsure or unclear about something or if you have made any mistakes. Your supervisor is human, so you should feel able to discuss matters that are important to you.
Sometimes it can be difficult to gauge the tone of an email so try to reflect on emails you receive and send.
Try to raise any problems or issues you are experiencing such as illness or personal extenuating circumstances, or your progression with your principal supervisor or a member of your supervision team as soon as possible.
Secondly, if talking to your supervisor/s doesn't help then you can talk to a PGR Co-Ordinator in the Graduate School or your PGR Director who is a senior member of staff. You could also speak to the Independent PGR Counsellor allocated to your faculty. The Independent PGR Counsellor is a senior member of staff with considerable experience of supervising PGR students and is external to your faculty.
As you can see, there are people that you can talk to, so you do not need to feel that you can't speak up if you are having difficulties with a supervisor or if challenging situations arise that you may help with.
Take a look at 'Supervision Challenges'.
How do I contact the PGR Co-Ordinator aligned to my faculty?
Here are your current PGR -Co-Ordinator contacts:
Arts & Design - Andrea Percival
Humanities & Social Sciences - Michelle Austin
Business & Law - Sarah Jukes
Health and Life Sciences - Paul Agnew
You can drop in and see a Co-ordinator for support every Tuesday 2.00-3.00pm in Research Commons - Library floor 1 (City Campus Library)
Please contact your PGR Co-Ordinator if you would like to know who your independent PGR Counsellor is.
Who is my PGR Director?
Arts, Design and Social Sciences - Dr James McConnel
Business & Law - Dr Pushkar Jha
Engineering & Environment - Professor Wai Lok Woo
Health & Life Sciences - Dr Kevin Thomas
What happens if I am not sure what to do?
You can speak to your PGR Co-Ordinator, independent PGR Counsellor and your Advice Team.
Can I Request a Change of Supervisor?
A change in your supervision team may be necessary, for example, staff absence, study leave or leaving the University, changes in research focus or regulatory requirements. You can also request a change of supervisor when issues between you and your supervisor/s can't be resolved but this process should only be used when alternative ways of sorting the issues out have been exhausted.
A request for a change of supervisor can be made by you or your supervisor.
What is the process?
Firstly, check out the Graduate School's 'Supervision challenges'
Complete a PGR Request for Changes to Supervision Team and submit to Graduateschool@northumbria.ac.uk
Can I make a Complaint?
If you feel that you haven't been able to resolve the issues with your supervisor/s and you are unhappy with the situation then you can make a complaint.
A Complaint is when a student makes it known that they are unhappy about something so any aspect of the University, a member of staff or another student.
A complaint must be initiated within three months of the issues or events giving rise to the complaint.
You can see the complaints procedure in full at Annexe 4 of the Handbook of Student Regulations (Research Programmes) 2023/24
Can you help me with a Complaint?
Yes, your Advice Team is here to help and support you. You can contact us at su.advice@northumbria.ac.uk